“The first batch of holidaymakers arrives in three days’ time.”Luna gives a small smile without the need to hide her fangs.She feeds on males as a necessity, and not very often.Fluids are enough to satisfy her blood cravings, but she feels uncomfortable with the intense sexual drive that comes with sucking blood from men.
In bloodlust terms, that is the equivalent of Luna being a fussy eater.But then again, we know absolutely nothing about what it feels like to feed from a female’s viewpoint.The only feminine blood hunter we ever knew was the Red Queen, and none of us was with her for more than an hour or two.
I don’t want to give out too much information about how Aila and I like to satisfy one another.Not with her mom sitting a stone’s throw away.All I do is say gruffly and abruptly, “Fuck double beds.I don’t need any of that domesticated horseshit.”
“Good,” Rundas growls.“But let’s hope the last remaining human bachelors don’t hook up with female guests before we can get a taste of as many pretty li’l holidaymakers as we can.”
Glancing down at the guest list, Luna reassures the MC.“Nope.We have a hiking party of six, all single ladies, here for some bonding exercise or something like that.Then we have a group of eight ornithologists—that’s birdwatchers in case you were wondering—three men and five women.And then a family friendly group of four.Divorced mom, two kids, and her boyfriend.”Tapping the notepad with her pencil, Luna reminds us.
“That’s all the rooms booked up for the month of June.Monty’s ferry is going to be jam-packed.”
Using her tablet device, Luna shows us the screenshots she took from the guests’ social media pages.To be fair, I understand it when Jaecar and Artim have negative reactions.
“Shee-it, Luna.”Artim gets his objection in first.“It’s like shooting fish in a barrel.”Making eye contact with Shadow, Artim gives it to him straight.“Prez, Jaecar and me were thinkin’ ‘bout heading out to the mainland to go after some free range myops.”
Jaecar nods.“Yep.The thrill of the hunt ain’t the same when the food is home delivered.Where’s the excitement?”
Rundas grunts.He will always stay by Shadow’s side in case any kind of shit goes down.As MC Veep, where Shadow goes, Rundas must follow.
“Sure.”Shadow has no problem with us sucking women until their eyes roll into the backs of their skulls, just so long as we don’t do it here on Landslide.“Go get some of those sweet ass summertime pussy snacks.”
“Watch out for fentanyl, GHB, and shrooms.”I know I’m being a buzzkill, but sucking blood laced with intoxicants is almost the same as being caught in the sunlight.“You will struggle to stay under the radar if you fall into a K-hole.”
If our vics have illegal substances in their bloodstream, it affects us as well.The only mind-altering drugs we had access to when I was human were mushrooms.The shaman would give us strange fungi and herbs to inhale during the ceremony to mark our transition from boy to man.And there were other ingredients given to us before battle to make the bloodlust rise.
“Are you coming?”Jaecar asks offhand, because we all know that I prefer to hunt alone.
“Hunter’s staying Landslide side to be with his obsession.”Shadow smirks, but it’s not said in a scornful voice.“It’s time he got to experience a prey who has the sense to run away.”
In a heartbeat, I am spitting with rage.The fragile bottle of fluids cracks as I squeeze it.
“If I choose not to hide in the shade and wait for Aila to fall asleep, that doesn’t make me any less of a hunter!She will come to me with her eyes wide open or not at all!”
“You are not permitted to share our secrets, brother,” Luna reminds me, keeping a cool head like she always does when the Riders go for one another’s throats.“Take your fill of the girl and then set her free.”
“Humans don’t make good pets,” Shadow reminds me.“They were born to fall in love and pair off.”He jerks his head towards Ben and Amelia toasting one another with goo-goo eyes and sappy smiles.“There’s a good case in point over there.”
Why does feeding on another female hold no attraction for me anymore?I could ride out with my brothers, head for the nearest city, and go hunting for delicious free-range beaver.Sucking, fucking, biting, and feeding until this gnawing hunger was satisfied.
But only Ailacan invigorate my appetites again.
I am waiting for her in the kitchen.I smell her shampoo and shower gel before she enters.Luna told me last night that she asked Aila to come in early so the two of them could go over the work schedule together.
My eagerness to see my obsession again makes me forgetful.I guess women don’t like it at the best of times when they are surprised by men waiting for them in a dark room.And that’s not even taking Aila’s manipulative ex into the equation.
Giving a small squeak, she cries out.
“Jesus Christ!”
Clutching her chest, Aila tries to calm her elevated heartbeat.“Think about giving me a heads-up next time!”
I am at a loss for words.Somehow, I always forget how she has this uncanny ability to take my breath away at any given moment.
Now, she is fresh and fragrant, invigorated by her morning shower and rearing to go.Her damp hair has been conditioned and combed through.Aila has braided her hair on one side of her head and tied the end with a cotton-coated elastic band.Her tank top is white and tight.Her pants are that flexible material that stretches and clings to her body in all the right places.
I must grip the edge of the countertop to stop myself from pouncing on her.
“Did you say your goodbyes to your mother?”
